The Push: A Climber’s Journey of Endurance, Risk, and Going Beyond Limits

A dramatic inspiring memoir by legendary rock climber Tommy Caldwell the first person to free climb the Dawn Wall of Yosemites El Capitan If you want to be inspired by a great leader if you want to feel what it takes to do what no one thought possible if you want to be absorbed by a heroic journey Tommy Caldwell s story is one of the best you could ever hope to find Jim Collins author of Good to Great On January 14 2015 Tommy Caldwell along with his partner Kevin Jorgeson summited what is widely regarded as the hardest climb in historyYosemites nearly vertical 3 000 foot Dawn Wall after nineteen days on the route Caldwells odds defying feat was the culmination of an entire lifetime of pushing himself to his limits as an athlete This engrossing memoir chronicles the journey of a boy with a fanatical mountain guide father who was determined to instill toughness in his son to a teen whose obsessive nature drove him to the top of the sport climbing circuit Caldwells affinity for adventure then led him to the vertigo inducing and little understood world of big wall free climbing But his evolution as a climber was not without challenges in his early twenties he was held hostage by militants in a harrowing ordeal in the mountains of Kyrgyzstan Soon after he lost his left index finger in an accident Later his wife and main climbing partner left him Caldwell emerged from these hardships with a renewed sense of purpose and determination He set his sights on free climbing El Capitans biggest steepest blankest facethe Dawn Wall This epic assault took more than seven years during which time Caldwell redefined the sport found love again and became a father The Push is an arresting story of focus drive motivation endurance and transformation a book that will appeal to anyone seeking to overcome fear and doubt cultivate perseverance turn failure into growth and find connection with family and with the natural world